Slash X Ranch Cafe is a restaurant that caters to off-road enthusiasts, including bikers, quad riders and four wheelers. This fine restaurant is located a few miles south of Barstow, in the Stoddard Valley area of the Mojave Desert. After a hard, dusty day of hitting the hundreds of trails that Stoddard Valley has to offer, park your Jeep in front of Slash X Ranch Cafe, and enjoy a delicious burger, and the coldest beer south of Barstow.
As you enter the restaurant, you'll notice the funky decor, dominated with beer signs and countless American flags and banners, which seem to be everywhere. Look up to the ceiling and it's covered with hats, of every shape and size, but mostly every variety of ball cap under the sun. There is even a bicycle hung from the ceiling... how many times do you find that? You'll also see mounted deer and other animals that inhabit the desert near Barstow. "Western" would be a great word to describe the decor of the dining room and the bar.
You make your selection from the menu, and then you go to order line. You place your order, pay for it, and you're given a receipt with your name on it. When your order is ready, one of the chefs will call your name and you pick up your order at the bar. Better yet, if you're sitting at the bar, your order will be brought to you.
From the "Burgers" section of the menu, we went with the "OHV Special with Cheese," and a side of fries. Yes, we enjoyed "OHV Special with Cheese" every night we dined, but when you're a "foodie" and a burger fanatic, what more could you ask for?
The burger started with a medium size sesame seed bun that was lightly toasted and it was fresh as it gets. "OHV Special" includes TWO patties of choice beef - probably a quarter pound - lightly seasoned and cooked to a perfect medium. The beef was topped with a slice of perfectly melted American cheese, and Thousand Island dressing garnished the bun. Veggies included tomato, lettuce, and in my case, onion. You can order the burger "your way," and in Tom's case, he omitted the onion.
The fries, or as Slash X calls them, "Freedom Fries," were medium cut, and deep fried to a semi-crispy golden brown on the outside, and white, juicy and tender on the inside, just the way fries should be. The fries were delicious, and made for the perfect side to the burger.
Such a delicious burger! The "OHV Special" just might be the best burger in the Mojave Desert! Talk about "comfort food..." ... one bite into the burger and I was rewarded with a taste sensation, as the meat-to-bun ratio was perfect and everything worked together to make for a perfect burger. Unlike other burgers, I could taste the cheese, which complimented the meat, bun and veggies. I noted the meat, bun and cheese were hot, and the veggies were cold, which truly makes for a burger sensation. The burger was juicy, flavorful and the Thousand Island dressing made this an "old school" burger in every way. Slash X Ranch Cafe serves an amazing burger!
As an aside, we paid around $36.00 for two burgers, fries and a pitcher of 805 beer, which was certainly reasonable for such a delicious meal.
If you're a fan of off-road recreation, and you enjoy good food, great people and good times, and cold beer, park your bike, Jeep or quad in front of Slash X Ranch Cafe and enjoy a cold beer or two and one of the best burgers you'll find in the Mojave Desert. Fine food, cold beer and super friendly staff... you'll find it all at Slash X Ranch Cafe, located south of Barstow, CA.
Slash X Ranch Cafe might not be for everyone, but it's for me, and I give them 5 stars in every way! read more